Wan Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Hi Guys, I'm thinking about running a separate digital power amp and pre amp instead of using a traditional style bass head.. I could rack it all up and in theory have more flexibility.. I'll be using a 4 ohm Barefaced Big Twin 2 and i'll need around a 1000 watts.. Any Ideas about which power amps to check out ? Cheers Wan... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 I went down this route a while ago, when I was looking for a less weighty equivalent of my SWR SM1500. I had the SWR Marcus Miller Pre amp paired with a QSC PLX1602 power amp. Truth was, with them both racked together, there wasn't much of a weight saving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 You can get 1000W 1U-high power amps. I used a W-Audio 1U 1000W for a while, driven by a Tech21 VT Bass pedal. Sounded great. Lots of headroom, too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 I had a Peavey ipr 1600 with a Marcus Miller Pre. Playing through Bergantino HD112s. Looking back, it was probably the best sound I've ever had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 What flexibility is there when they are all racked up? Will you have different preamps that you can slot in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wan Posted July 11, 2016 Author Share Posted July 11, 2016 Thanks guys.. I'm just thinking that all a Bass amp really is, is a power section and a pre amp in one unit, but maybe I could build a more efficient set up by having an individual power amp and separate pre amp section.. Who knows.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 Have the power amp racked and install a multitude of preamps and sound shapers on a pedalboard... every eventuality covered! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted July 11, 2016 Share Posted July 11, 2016 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1468275119' post='3089829'] Have the power amp racked and install a multitude of preamps and sound shapers on a pedalboard... every eventuality covered! [/quote] Yup, like this and actually exactly what I'm doing myself! I have a BH800 from TC Electronic for most stuff but when I wanna go big big, then I run a TC G-System and pedals in to a QSC power amp and then on to the previously mentioned Barefaced Big Twin II I can't wait to run two cabs for stereo, but there's no way I can afford another right now. Car needs a service... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 I used to have a Trace Elliot GP12SMX pre and a Soundtech 1U 800w power amp. Great sound, and loads lighter than a comparable Trace head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 (edited) Currently using a 4U rack with a Korg DTR tuner (1U), a Sansamp RBI (1U) and a Matrix GT1000FX stereo power amp (2U). I couldn't be any happier to be honest. It's a very flexible set up. Generally, I just run the poweramp in parallel (single input, parallel output - one or two channels mono), but it'll also run in bridged mono (1000w/one input, one output - generally daisychaining two cabinets to achieve 4ohms) and stereo/AB (twin channel input/output). Occasionally, I'll use a board which outputs to two channels (whumpy and dirty) and run this into separate channels/cabs. Just one other thing, the Matrix weighs a bit over 4KG, so it's a backsaver! Edited July 12, 2016 by NancyJohnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vailbass Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 I would say that you may not need anything near 1000 watts, though I understand if you are thinking of the inexpensive class D power amps, they seem highly over- rated power- wise; the good ones will be a couple thousand USD and up. If you want something small, I have had great success with a single rack space ART SLA-2 power amp. It gives 280/ side into 4 ohms or 560/ bridged mono into 8 though it will run 4 ohms bridged safely. It's deep and about 20 pound so not a 'micro' amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 (edited) I'd also go with the 'you don't need 1000w'. Sure it's there should you need it; I'm unsure whether the output pots are linear or logarithmic but to be honest I've never run the Matrix more than half way into 8 ohms and it's been more than adequate (and we play pretty loud live). Edited August 7, 2016 by NancyJohnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 (edited) I moved to that kind of setup a few years back now and found a Synq1K0 which is a 1U shallow rack unit and ratings below. Audio : max. output channels2 Audio : Wrms 4Ω stereo, per channel 540 Audio : Wrms 8Ω stereo, per channel 300 Audio : Wrms 8Ω bridge 1080 I have tried bridge mode a couple of times but usually have it in mono mode or stereo using only one channel. The noise floor in my setup is really low and i generally have the power amp on or close to full and the pre-amp and bass levels to suit. Seems to give me a bigger fuller sound. I also have a crown xls1502 which again is a shallow rack but 2U, and like the OP i use a Big Twin II as my main cab. Edited April 6 by jazzyvee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 just to be picky with the OP, Class D amps are not digital they are analogue. I use a 2KW capable Class D stereo power amp driven by a full tube pre-amp I designed and built for that purpose. In a four space SKB rack case I can lift it with just two fingers. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifi2112 Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 I finally got to try my Koch (guitar) poweramp rated 90w through my two MAS26 cabs at a rehearsal & couldn’t crank it too much coz it was too loud lol ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bremen Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 19 hours ago, BassmanPaul said: just to be picky with the OP, Class D amps are not digital they are analogue. I use a 2KW capable Class D stereo power amp driven by a full tube pre-amp I designed and built for that purpose. In a four space SKB rack case I can lift it with just two fingers. True, but it doesn't help that the Synq amp pictured above describes itself as 'digital' on its face. Like a pair of headphones I once owned, a panel heater on the wall over there, and probably several of the onions in my fridge. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 My last rack, many years ago. 2 Different preamps, each capable of blending effected with clean. Each of them feeding one side of the Yamaha power amp and then into a cab each. So I had 2 different drive and 2 different clean sounds on all the time. The Ampeg and Black Bass Pod XT Pro were always in use. The red guitar Pod was a backup. It was very heavy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baloney Balderdash Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 (edited) This is my "amp-less" setup: Quote My entire signal chain explained in written form (currently in the process of rearranging my setup, following is the most likely outcome) : (*pedals listed in [ red/bold/underline text ] are "always on" effects*) 5 string 28.6" scale Ibanez GSRM25 Mikro Bass (equipped with an EMG Geezer Butler P pickup, and strung with Elixir Nanoweb coated nickel-plated roundwound hex steel core guitar strings, gauge .080 - .062 - .046 - .036 - .026, tuned in tenor bass, G standard, tuning, that is as 3 half steps above the 5 upper strings of a 6 string bass in regular B standard tuning) -> ->> XVive Undulator (tremolo pedal, but never actually engaged and used exclusively for its great buffer) ->> EHX Black Finger (tube driven optical compressor, with 2 preamp tubes operating at proper high 300V plate voltage, mainly used as a tube preamp stage, driven to just at the edge of the tubes's breakup point, but with some very subtle compression dialed in as well) ->> TC Electronic Sub'N'Up Mini (used exclusively for an 1 octave up effect, delivered by a custom made Toneprint, dialed in to mimic an 8 string bass/12 string guitar, to fill out more sonic space, mostly used in conjunction with my high gain distortion setup) ->> DigiTech FreqOut (feedback generator) ->> Boss LS-2 [A+B Mix <-> Bypass] (parallel effect loops mixer/switch) ={ [Loop A Send] ->> Monarch MFL-22 Stereo Flanger (sometimes stacked into the HoTone tremolo in front of it, and always mixed with either clean signal or the Behringer phaser from parallel effects [Loop B]) ->> HoTone Trem (tremolo, sometimes used with the Monarch Stereo Flanger behind it stacked into it, and always mixed with either clean signal, or sometimes the Behringer VP1 Vintage Phaser, from parallel effects [Loop B]) ->> [Loop A Return] ->|+|<- [Loop B Send] ->> Behringer VP1 Vintage Phaser (clone of the original big box EHX Small Stone phaser, used with Color switch engaged for deep sweep and high resonance/feedback, and always mixed with the Monarch MFL-22 Stereo Flanger from parallel effects [Loop A]) ->> [Loop B Return] ([Loop A] + [Loop B] mixed at an approximate 50/50 ratio) => [LS-2 Output] }=>->> Boss LS-2 [A+B Mix <-> Bypass] (parallel effect loops mixer/switch) ={ [Loop A Send] ->> Mosky Black Rat (RAT clone, in Turbo RAT, LED diode clipping, mode, quite raunchy, fuzz-esque, high gain distortion, always used mixed with the {Orange Juice -> Metal Zone} from parallel effects [Loop B]) ->> Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz (Boss FZ-2/Univox Superfuzz clone, octave fuzz, always mixed with either clean signal, or {Orange Juice -> Metal Zone}, from parallel effects [Loop B]) ->> [Loop A Return] ->|+|<- [Loop B Send] ->> Joyo Orange Juice (Orange amp like overdrive, dialed in to deliver a low gain overdrive, always used stacked into the Boss Metal Zone in front of it, and mixed with the Mosky Black RAT from parallel effects [Loop A]) ->> Boss MT-2 Metal Zone (distortion, dialed in at a rather moderate gain setting, always used with the Orange Juice behind it stacked into it, and always mixed with either the Mosky Black Rat, or sometimes the Behringer Super Fuzz, from parallel effects [Loop A]) ->> [Loop B Return] ([Loop A] + [Loop B] mixed at an approximate 50/50 ratio) => [LS-2 Output] }=>->> Boss LS-2 [A+B Mix <-> Bypass] (parallel effect loops mixer/switch) ={ [Loop A Send] ->> Joyo Oxford Sound (clone of the Tech 21 Oxford, which is an all analog emulation of an Orange Amp type preamp, dialed in to deliver a low gain overdrive, always used blended with "clean" signal from parallel effects [Loop B]) ->> [Loop A Return] ->|+|<- [Loop B Send] ->> ([Loops B] empty, used to blend in "clean" signal) ->> [Loop B Return] ([Loop A] + [Loop B] mixed at an approximate 50/50 ratio) => [LS-2 Output] }=>->> Zoom B1Xon (used predominantly as reverb unit, with various different reverb patches, including the always on {very subtle Plate Reverb -> subtle Spring Reverb} reverb patch that is part of my basic "clean" tone, and an extremely thick, lush reverb patch, used as a pad effect with volume swells from the build in expression pedal, though also used for a couple of additional effects, including a prominent "wah" pedal patch and a trippy reverse delay patch) ->> Danelectro Fab Metal (post reverb high gain distortion, often used stacked into the Orange Juice in front of it) ->> Joyo Orange Juice (post reverb medium gain distortion) ->> NUX Tape Core Deluxe (amazing digital emulation of the legendary Roland RE-201 Space Echo tape delay) ->> Behringer VD400 Vintage Delay (clone of the Boss DM-3 Analog Delay) ->> NUX (NBP-5) Melvin Lee Davis Bass Preamp + DI (loaded with a digitally emulated Aguilar Tone Hammer amp, and an Ampeg SVT-212AV IR cab simulation, with a subtle low gain overdrive blended in at a 50/50 clean/drive ratio) -> ->> ART Tube MP Project Series (tube preamp and DI, with build in HPF, fixed @40Hz -12dB/Oct, engaged, tube driven to just on the verge of breakup point) -> // ->> Band rehearsal/jamming/gigging // ->> Home practice // ->> Home recordings // : // ->> Band rehearsal/jamming/gigging ->> Effects Return (poweramp input) of a Peavey Solo Special 112 (160W combo amp, with the build in speaker disconnect and instead hooked up to a passive PA speaker) ->> The Box PA 502 (passive full range flat frequency response PA speaker with 1x 15" woofer/mids driver + 1.7" high frequency tweeter horn (crossover 2.3kHz)) // ->> Home practice ->> The T.Mix Mix 502 (mixer) ->> Sennheiser HD 380 Pro (studio grade, that is FRFR, headphones) // ->> Home recordings ->> M-Audio Fast Track (audio interface) ->> Reaper (DAW) // Though my main point with this is consistency of tone regardless of whether I rehearse at home through headphones, at band jam/rehearsal through a PA speaker, or live through a PA system. But as you can see I use a combination of no less than 4 preamps to obtain the exact tone I desire. Edited April 8 by Baloney Balderdash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 On 06/04/2024 at 11:40, jazzyvee said: I moved to that kind of setup a few years back now and found a Synq1K0 which is a 1U shallow rack unit and ratings below. Audio : max. output channels2 Audio : Wrms 4Ω stereo, per channel 540 Audio : Wrms 8Ω stereo, per channel 300 Audio : Wrms 8Ω bridge 1080 I have tried bridge mode a couple of times but usually have it in mono mode or stereo using only one channel. The noise floor in my setup is really low and i generally have the power amp on or close to full and the pre-amp and bass levels to suit. Seems to give me a bigger fuller sound. I also have a crown xls1502 which again is a shallow rack but 2U, and like the OP i use a Big Twin II as my main cab. That is a beautiful set up! Lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 @sifi2112 You location gave me a smile and a memory. My Mother and both my sisters attended your teacher training college. I visited Bingley many times as we visited them. Off topic I know but please humour me. As we get older many 'blasts from the past' take over. ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 2 hours ago, fretmeister said: My last rack, many years ago. It was very heavy! It certainly looks it!!! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 6 hours ago, bremen said: True, but it doesn't help that the Synq amp pictured above describes itself as 'digital' on its face. Like a pair of headphones I once owned, a panel heater on the wall over there, and probably several of the onions in my fridge. Marketing departments! You can't live with them...period!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bremen Posted April 8 Share Posted April 8 Everything was digital in the 80s, then it was Titanium for a while, now it seems to be Quantum. There's even a housing estate being built near me called Quantum Fields. Whatever next, Quark Gardens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 18 hours ago, bremen said: Everything was digital in the 80s, then it was Titanium for a while, now it seems to be Quantum. There's even a housing estate being built near me called Quantum Fields. Whatever next, Quark Gardens? Hopefully there will be a bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bremen Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 19 minutes ago, fretmeister said: Hopefully there will be a bar. And some foam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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